Court
Splits Decisions On Ten Commandments
June 27, 2005 -- In two 5-4 decisions, the Supreme Court ruled today that the
display of the Ten Commandments is constitutionally acceptable in the Texas
capitol building, but not in a Kentucky courthouse.

Supreme
Court Backs Government Power to Seize Private Land
June 23, 2005 -- In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled as
constitutional the eminent domain powers of city governments to seize privately
owned land, homes and buildings when necessary to make way for private
developments, like malls, housing developments and office parks.

Court
Backs Religious Rights of PrisonersJune 1, 2005 -- In a
case brought by a witch and Satanist, the U.S. Supreme Court has unanimously
upheld the constitutionality of a federal law requiring prisons to accommodate
the religious practices and beliefs of inmates.

Court
Rules States Cannot Bar Out-of-State Wine Shipments (CNN)
May 16, 2005 -- In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court ruled that states cannot
bar consumers from shipping home wine purchased from out-of-state vineyards they
visit in person or on the Internet. As many as 24 states will now have to revise
their laws on out-of-state wine shipments.

Supreme
Court Rules Federal Sentencing System Wrongly Applied
January 13, 2005 -- In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court has ordered
sweeping changes to the manner in which federal judges have been sentencing some
60,000 defendants per year. In issuing their split decision, the Justices ruled
that the manner in which judges have been adding time the defendant's prison
stays is unconstitutional.